Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara to â€œurgently refer toÂ the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for an
effective and independent investigation the allegations that the leadership of the House attempted to pad this yearâ€™s budget to the tune of N40Â billion and that the member who blew the whistle was victimized for opposing immunity for principal officers.â€

SERAPâ€™s call followed allegations by the immediate past Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmunin Jibrin, that Speaker YakubuÂ Dogara and three other principal officers of the House victimized him for refusing to support immunity for presiding officers as well as the
approval of N40 billion for principal officers out of N100 billion approved for members of the House for constituency project.

In a statement today by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni the organization said that, â€œGiven the seriousness and gravity of theÂ allegations against the leadership of the House, any investigation by the House would not be enough, as this would not meet the threshold of an
effective, transparent and independent investigation. Nigerians wonâ€™t have confidence in the House investigating itself in this case.â€

The statement reads in part: â€œReferring the allegations to both the EFCC and the ICPC for a joint investigation would show that the House Â leadership is willing and able to enhance the transparency and accountability of its system and that of the National Assembly as a whole.â€

â€œThe Speaker must now move swiftly to refer the allegations to the EFCC and the ICPC to allow for a swift, transparent, effective and independentÂ investigation in order to contain the damage that is already done, but also not to create the impression of a cover up. There must be fullÂ accountability for any leader or member of the House found to be responsible for corruption and abuse of office.â€

â€œThese allegations also raise numerous questions about the need for greater level of transparency and accountability in the National Assembly, suchÂ as telling Nigerians the salaries and allowances of Senators and members of the House; public auditing of spending by the National Assembly, and
why several concluded reports on allegations of corruption that have been investigated by the National Assembly remain shrouded in secrecy andÂ skewed to favour suspected corrupt officers.â€

â€œSERAP also urges the leadership of the House to publicly commit that the House will not promote constitutional amendments on immunity for itsÂ principal officers. No matter how itâ€™s framed, no public interest is served by the National Assembly seeking to grant its principal officersÂ immunity that wasnâ€™t contemplated by the framers of the 1999 Constitution.â€

â€œItâ€™s absolutely important that members of the National Assembly–the Senate and House of Representatives–conduct themselves at all times in theÂ knowledge that their role is a public one; appearances of propriety can be as important as actual conflicts of interest in establishing what is
acceptable behaviour.â€q

â€œSERAP also urges Mr Dogara to use the opportunity of addressing the allegations raised against the leadership of the House to propose a bill on
membersâ€™ integrity, which we strongly believe would help to restore public confidence in the National Assembly; provide a check against corruption;
and protect the leadership of the House and Senate from claims and criticisms of self- interest.â€

â€œLegislators are fiduciaries in terms of acting with honesty, integrity and the utmost good faith in the public interest. The oath of office sworn
by members of National Assembly at the beginning of every term also sets a clear evidence of their fiduciary duty that they must be faithful to the
constitution and commit themselves to the greatest happiness of the greatest number.â€